:Even though they were all born of the same mother, Fu Xinghe was completely different from her two older brothers. She was vain, arrogant, foolish, and selfish so much so that even her family could not find a single good word to say about her. Obsessed with the Emperor, she regarded all peers as rivals for his attention and had no friends.
Over more than ten years, every method had been tried to correct her, but she remained incorrigible. Yet, being the only daughter, she had to be indulged.
Now the situation at court was different. Yesterday, Mi Dinglan had spoken with Fu Han and learned that in a year, Fu Han intended to resign and retire. Her daughter, proud and headstrong, would be back to a commoner’s life and might struggle to find a suitable husband. So, within this year, a good match had to be found for Fu Xinghe.
Mi Dinglan’s attitude was unprecedentedly firm, as if she had already chosen a son-in-law. “I’m discussing marriage at a critical time. Don’t cause trouble recently.”
Fu Xinghe blurted out, “No!” Why did it always come to this? At the mention of marriage, she refused blind arrangements.
Ming Xu gently tugged Fu Xinghe’s sleeve, fearing her mistress would, as usual, argue with her mother.
Mi Dinglan said, “The Fu family’s ancestral rule is loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country. No one in the family may marry into the royal household, to avoid bias and faction. I won’t let you enter the palace. Learn needlework in your spare time, and don’t think of anything else.”
Fu Xinghe tried to reason, “I won’t enter the palace. Let’s delay the marriage for now.”
Mi Dinglan did not believe her. She knew her daughter’s obsession with the throne too well; delaying tactics would not work.
Fu Xinghe, recalling the original character’s personality in the book, tried another approach. “Being a wife is hard work, Mother. With my temper, marrying means suffering. Don’t you care for me?”
Mi Dinglan said, “I pampered you before. Now, look at the situation. You understand nothing. Continuing to pamper you would only harm you.”
Fu Xinghe seized the moment. “I know I’m foolish and blind to the world in major matters. Why not lay it all out for me and let me give up hope?”
Mi Dinglan’s expression shifted. Her daughter had always been stubborn. Whenever the Emperor was mentioned, she refused to listen. No matter how many times she was warned, she would stubbornly proclaim, “If I enter the palace, all these problems will be solved. His Majesty likes me. Once I’m Empress, what is there to fear?”
The original Fu Xinghe never admitted her foolishness. Hearing this, Mi Dinglan felt her daughter might finally be opening her mind. She pulled Fu Xinghe down to sit and began explaining from the beginning.
“His Majesty is the Sixth Prince. Before his accession, there was a deposed Crown Prince. Your grandfather was the Late Emperor’s imperial tutor, and your father was the Late Emperor’s schoolmate, tasked with teaching the Crown Prince.”
The Late Emperor ruled with benevolence, and Fu Han’s philosophy aligned with him. For twenty years, Fu Han had diligently guided the Crown Prince, ensuring he would inherit the Late Emperor’s legacy. With such exemplary teachers and parents, the Crown Prince should have grown into a competent heir.
Yet, he went astray. He was an actor. In public, he appeared filial, intelligent, and polite, fooling everyone. Two years ago, the Late Emperor sent him to inspect the canal in Hangzhou. The canal banks were prosperous, hardly a grueling assignment.
But once there, he reported blockages and requested funds to dredge, using the pretext to delay returning to the court. He imposed forced labor under the guise of dredging, built a temporary palace, seized women, and treated human life lightly…
Far from the emperor’s gaze, he was the de facto heir. With the Late Emperor aging and officials afraid to offend him, he misled the higher-ups and concealed the truth, leaving the canal region in chaos.
Fu Xinghe realized the deposed Crown Prince was a top-class actor. He had pretended to be obedient for decades before the Late Emperor and Fu Han, but the Late Emperor lived too long. Once in Hangzhou, he could no longer contain himself. Perhaps there were instigators, but it was ultimately his nature.
When the Crown Prince’s deeds in Hangzhou were finally revealed in a secret report, showing bloodshed after bloodshed, only then did the Late Emperor and Fu Han realize they had misjudged him for so many years.
The Late Emperor was furious and enraged, his health nearly failing. Fu Han, having taught such a student, knelt outside the study, willing to die.
The Late Emperor went without sleep all night, aging ten years. Yet, an experienced ruler with more than one son could still say the next day to Fu Han, “A child untrained is the father’s fault. If you wish to atone with your life, what am I to do?”
The Late Emperor sent the Sixth Prince to Hangzhou to handle the matter and depose the Crown Prince. The issue was resolved.
The following spring, the Late Emperor passed, and the Sixth Prince, Meng Dongting, ascended the throne. Having learned from the deposed Crown Prince, he selected a cold, impassive successor, whose temperament was the complete opposite of the previously deceptive Crown Prince.
Before his death, he told his friend Fu Han, “I was deceived by the deposed Crown Prince’s filial face for twenty years. Now, Meng Dongting, who shows no expression, pleases me most. Assist him with all your heart.” Fu Xinghe marveled. Truly, an emperor is quick to change.
Meng Dongting was ruthless. Once the Late Emperor died, he executed the deposed Crown Prince and eradicated his remaining factions. During the Hangzhou investigations, all involved were executed. It was said the day was so bloody the local market could not hold the executions.
Fu Han had wanted to resign after the Crown Prince incident, but the Late Emperor requested he fully support the new Emperor. Besides, the Fu family’s disciples were spread throughout court and society. Fu Han’s position was no longer just his own.
Meng Dongting’s governance clashed with Fu Han’s ideals. Almost nothing could be reconciled. Combined with Fu Han’s twenty-year teacher-student bond with the deposed Crown Prince, Meng Dongting suspected him of colluding with the old faction. The new Emperor and former officials were like fire and water, only waiting for a catalyst to turn.
If Fu Xinghe had not escaped the Tyrant Emperor’s bed in time, she would have been that catalyst. Giving a drug to the Emperor? That’s treason worthy of execution of nine clans.
Mi Dinglan spoke earnestly: “Xing’er, entering the palace is like diving into the deep sea. I am doing this for your own good.”
Fu Xinghe, putting on a look of struggling to decide, fell silent for a long time, eyes brimming with tears. “Before, I didn’t understand Father’s burdens. Now I see how hard it is. I won’t speak of entering the palace again. Mother, you needn’t rush the marriage either.”
She would never enter the palace in this life. Mi Dinglan was relieved. “Finally obedient. Your father is still angry. Stay home these few days and read. Knowledge is beneficial.”
The mother and daughter spoke a while longer. Fu Xinghe said she wanted to wash up, and Mi Dinglan left. Ming Xu and Ming Feng carried in a large wooden tub filled with hot water. Fu Xinghe observed: the main effort came from Ming Feng, clearly a trained fighter.
Fu Xinghe could not hide her admiration. “Your skill is impressive. If I had half of it, I wouldn’t have nearly handed myself to the Tyrant Emperor over a snake.”
Ming Xu added, “If only Ming Feng could stay longer.” Fu Xinghe looked puzzled. Ming Xu explained, “Miss, remember? Ming Feng promised to remain in the estate a year to repay your life-saving favor. Five months have already passed.”
Fu Xinghe asked, “I’m a bit fuzzy, who could have harmed Ming Feng’s life?” “I don’t know. When we met her, she was injured and had amnesia.”
Fu Xinghe sensed hidden matters. Smiling, she said, “Ming Xu, Mother’s words today were enlightening. I plan to turn over a new leaf. Tell me everything I’ve done wrong, and I will correct it.”
Ming Xu, seeing Fu Xinghe’s genuine, harmless smile, suddenly felt a desire to confide. She realized with a start that she actually wanted to point out Fu Xinghe’s past mistakes.
Having learned to play blind, Ming Xu had become indifferent to judging Fu Xinghe’s actions. As long as she remained aligned with her mistress, she would be fine. Afraid it might be another trick, Ming Xu remained silent.
Fu Xinghe, slightly helpless, said, “These are troubled times for the Fu family. I don’t want to cause my father or mother any more worry. But sometimes I don’t even know what I’ve done wrong. Ming Xu, won’t you help me?”
Ming Xu waved her hand. “Miss, I didn’t mean that!” Fu Xinghe: “Then start with Ming Feng. I admit my fault there.” Ming Xu carefully agreed. “Yes.”
That day, while Fu Xinghe went to play in the mountains, she found a black-clad woman unconscious. Initially she wanted to ignore her, but her rival Sheng Bailu had just gained fame for distributing porridge outside the city. Emulating her, Fu Xinghe rescued Ming Xu and then exaggerated the story, even having Fu Han’s students craft an elaborate, heart-stirring rescue.
Clearly, no one paid attention. Only Ming Feng believed her. Fu Xinghe, frustrated at being ignored, made Ming Feng serve her for a year and proclaim her as “my lifesaver” in front of others.
Ming Xu said with admiration, “Ming Feng is skilled, has many unusual medicines, and can fight. That day, Miss only threw her into the woodshed and forgot about it. She woke up the next day on her own.”
So even without her help, Ming Feng would have recovered. The original heroine did nothing, yet still forced her to work.
Fu Xinghe said, “Tell Ming Feng the truth. If she wants to leave, let her go early. Pay her five months’ wages and compensation for distress.”
Ming Xu: “Distress…?” Just then, Ming Feng carried in a bucket of hot water and poured it into Fu Xinghe’s tub, clearly overhearing their conversation. Cold-faced, she said, “It’s fine. I have nowhere to go.”
Ming Feng had a refined appearance and stealthy martial skill, far from ordinary. Fu Xinghe asked, “Do you remember anything from before? Any clues we can help you investigate?”
Ming Feng: “I can’t remember. I probably wasn’t a good person either.” That “either” was blunt, implying Fu Xinghe wasn’t good either.
Fu Xinghe liked her disposition. A lost, amnesiac girl could be deceived by others. Better to keep her close until she recovered. Her intuition said Ming Feng was not bad.
“Do you remember what was on the letter?” “A place, saying His Majesty is there.”
“You dared intercept the Emperor’s letter on my advice?” Ming Feng, like a cold assassin, said, “A eunuch delivering it must be tied to the Emperor. If the Emperor is your beloved, why can’t a letter from him be taken?”
“…Logic is solid.” Fu Xinghe’s eyes, dark from the steam, glanced at the marks on her waist. The Tyrant Emperor’s strength was considerable; the bruises were evident.
Ming Feng and Ming Xu noticed and exchanged looks. Fu Xinghe explained: “I didn’t use any medicine.”
Ming Feng: “From my experience, it doesn’t seem so.” Fu Xinghe dismissed Ming Xu, whispering: “Where did the medicine come from?”
Ming Feng: “From an alley in the eastern city. A foreigner sold it.” Fu Xinghe: “Even with these marks, I escaped. I know my own body.”
Tyrant Emperor… Yes, it was significant, and it seems she had a rough encounter. Fu Xinghe sharply: “You said you didn’t remember. Where’s this experience from?”
Ming Feng simultaneously asked: “Have you seen pigs run?” They both fell silent, tacitly avoiding the topic. Fu Xinghe had no answer; Ming Feng frowned, recalling where her “experience” came from.
Fu Xinghe worried Ming Xu would hold back due to their bond, so she let Ming Feng speak.
Ming Feng candidly recounted her experiences over the past six months. When she finished, she curiously looked at Fu Xinghe, surprised that Fu Xinghe remained unbothered.
Ming Feng’s report was factual; Fu Xinghe seemed even more detached. Such composure unlike the original, who held grudges. Ming Feng wondered if Fu Xinghe had met a wise person outside.
Fu Xinghe then called Ming Xu in to analyze right and wrong. The original heroine had done so few things correctly that having Ming Xu list mistakes almost covered her entire life.
Fu Xinghe recorded all the memories, noting what needed to be corrected, and fell into a deep sleep.
Fu Xinghe stayed home quietly for three days. Mi Dinglan was delighted: “Mrs. Liu said her playboy son changed completely after marriage. Truly, marriage cures all. Ask Mrs. Liu to come by again tomorrow.”
Fu Xinghe had Ming Feng watch Mi Dinglan’s progress in arranging a husband, ready to intervene.
Hearing this, Fu Xinghe almost pulled a muscle on her bed. Pretending to be obedient has gone wrong?
Indeed. Pretending had misled Mi Dinglan, and after four days without exercise spending time indoors learning needlework her body protested. Her back, legs, and neck ached.
In modern life, Fu Xinghe exercised daily. Suddenly being confined to the house, her body rebelled. Life, she realized, required mischief and movement.
Ming Feng lifted Fu Xinghe’s arms using therapeutic techniques. She was surprised: “How could this happen without cause?”
Fu Xinghe thought it was simply from bending over all day sewing. Her modern soul protested through her body. Damn sewing wedding clothes she would never use this in life!
Ming Feng was speechless. Could sewing really cause injuries worse than martial arts? Luckily, her mistress had her learn martial arts instead of needlework.